Traction device for vehicles



E. HELM.

TRACTION DEVICE FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED APR-23,1920.

Patentedse 2 SHEETS -SHEEI I.

attoz way 4 APPLICATION FILED APR. 23, I920.

Patented Sept. 192% 2 SHEETS-SH EET 2.

ing wheels thereof digging themselves in.

Patented Sept. 19, 1922.

EMIL HELM. OF KITCHENER. ONTIYRIO, CANADA;

TRACTION DEvIeE son VEHICLES.

Application filed April 23,

lie it known that I. Bun. mm. a subjectof the King of (treat liritain, residing at hitclicucr. in the lrovince 'of ()ntario. and in the Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Traction Devices for Vehicles. of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to improvements iii traction devices for power vehicles. and

more particularly to a device for enabling motor trucks and the like to travel on roads where the ground is soft, without the driv- ',traction chain units, and,

Figure 4 is an edge elevation of a section of the chain enlarged.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates a body frame of atruck, and the numeral it indicates the driving wheels thereof.

Secured to the bod frame I forwardly .of the driving wliees 11, are brackets 12 in which is mounted a shaft 13. The ends of the shaft project beyond the brackets 12, and have 'rotatably mounted thereon, supporting arms 14, extending longitudinally of the. truck.v The supporting arms 14 are provided upon their forward ends with idler wheels 15, and upon their rear ends with idler wheels 16. Afle'xible traction element- 17 passes about the drive wheel 1.1, and the tract-ion wheels 15' and to. on each side of the truck; The spring 18 is secured to the forward end of each of the arms H and to the body frame ll) of the truck, normally holding their idler wheels and arms l-t in a position shown in Figure l. I

It will be seen that when'the arms 14 and idler wheels 15 and 16 are in a position shown in Figure. 1, the traction unit 17 enages the ground for a considerable length. ny suitable means may be provided. where-- 1920. Serial No; 376,107.

by the forward ends of the arms 14 ma moved downwardly against the action of the springs 18.-and any suitable means may be provided tor'takmg up the slack which may] be formed in the flexible element 17, by moving the idler. wheels and arms to this position.

' While any suitable traction element maybe employed, I have shown a traction ele ment particularly adapted for use in this connection; This traction element com; prises side plates 19, provided upon their outer surface with mud lugs 20 and secured together by links 21 The units thus formed are connected together by side chains 22,

each comprising long; links 23,.about which the ends of the side plates 19 are bent, as at 24, and small links 25 connecting the long" links.

To those familiar with the art, it will be obvious that the above structure is subject to many-minor alterations, and must befso altered in applying it to motor vehicles of different types, and? accordingly do not limit myself to the specific structure here inbefore set forth, but may maIke. any such changes. without. departing from the spirit of the invention, orthe scope of the subomed claims.

Having thus described my invention 1. claim:

l. The combination with a motor vehicle embodying the usual body frame, and driving wheels carried by. the frame, of substantially straight supporting arm mounted on each side of said l'ramejand pivoted forwardly of the axle of the drive wheels, idler wheels mounted on opposite ends of said arms, an endless flexible traction element passing about each pair of said idler wheels v and the correspondin; drive wheel, said arms being normallytangularly arranged whereby one idler wheel-hf each pair norn'ially con;

tacts the ground. aiid resilient-means for maintainine; said arms in normal position.

.2. The combination with a motor vehicle embodying alranur. and drive wheels carried by the frame. of substantially straight-sup portinp arms pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on opposite sides of the vehicle frame, idler wheels carried by said sup porting arms at each end thereof, an endless traction element slu'1'oun(ling"each pair. of idler wheels and their associated drive wheels, and resilient means "for normally hol dingone idler wheel of eaehfpair in conlnner face of the endless tread, and spring means tending to lift the forward end of said lever. the rear end of the lever enrrying the idler trolley heing l'ree lo IIIUYUdll) and down imlependentlv oi the rear sprocket.

In testimony whereof I :illix my signature in :presence of two witnesses.

ICMIL lllllllll. Witnesses ALLAN A. Mow-1n, Gnmm nn Ilium.

driving 15 

